Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
